An evaluation of the quality assurance of teaching and learning in Hong Kong higher education institutions

The central aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance systems used to enhance teaching and learning quality in Hong Kong Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Further to this, the H.K. Government adopted a system “Teaching and Learning Quality Process Reviews (TLQPRs)” to ensure and enhance teaching and learning quality by conducting various peer reviews to some pre-selected departments of the 8 HEIs. Reports of such reviews done during 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 have been published, whilst no critical appraisal of this system is performed. An initial review of the current literature reveals that there are gaps for further research on this topic, which include little published research on (i) revisiting the quality problems that may have happened in the higher education of Hong Kong; (ii) investigating the alignment issues of quality management in higher education of Hong Kong; and (iii) scrutinising how and to what extent Hong Kong Government’s review mechanism is effective upon all the government-funded HEIs of Hong Kong. In this regard, qualitative research methodology; by means of triangle analysis through case studies with documents, archival records, in-depth face to face interviews and focus groups are adopted to analyse the quality management of all the government-funded HEIs in Hong Kong.